Francis Bacon

All of our actions take their hue from the complexion of the heart, as landscapes their variety from light.

Travel, in the younger sort, is a part of education; in the elder, a part of experience.

Judges ought to be more learned than witty, more reverent than plausible, and more advised than confident. Above all things, integrity is their portion and proper virtue.

The serpent if it wants to become the dragon must eat itself.

Discretion of speech is more than eloquence, and to speak agreeably to him with whom we deal is more than to speak in good words, or in good order.

If money be not they servant, it will be thy master. The covetous man cannot so properly be said to possess wealth, as that may be said to possess him.

Old age is the most unexpected of all the things that can happen to a man.

We don’t stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing.

In a man’s letters you know, Madam, his soul lies naked, his letters are only the mirror of his breast, whatever passes within him is shown undisguised in its natural process. Nothing is inverted, nothing distorted, you see systems in their elements, you discover actions in their motives.

Go anywhere in England where there are natural, wholesome, contented, and really nice English people; and what do you always find? That the stables are the real center of the household.

When you place yourself in a position to help another, you will discover your greater capabilities.

So many objections may be made to everything, that nothing can overcome them but the necessity of doing something.

If you would have me weep, you must first of all feel grief yourself.

Opportunity makes a thief.

Sometimes if I see negative things it really doesn’t faze me, because you’ve got to be tough and you’ve got to be you.

The love of economy is the root of all virtue.

He that embarks on the voyage of life will always wish to advance rather by the impulse of the wind than the strokes of the oar; and many fold in their passage; while they lie waiting for the gale.

You either get tired fighting for peace, or you die.

The worst sin toward our fellow creatures is not to hate them, but to be indifferent to them: that’s the essence of inhumanity.

Every violation of truth is not only a sort of suicide in the liar, but is a stab at the health of human society.

Talent is commonly developed at the expense of character.